Conserving endangered grasslands

Grasslands are among the most endangered ecosystems in the world. It plays an important role for capturing harmful greenhouse gases, supporting bird and wildlife biodiversity, and providing grazing land for cattle, Pattison-Williams said.

“Globally, about 30 to 50 per cent of the Earth’s surface is grassland, and in North America, about 60 per cent of that has been cropped or lost to transportation corridors or urban development,” he said. “As we lose these grasslands, we want to understand the values and concerns of the people who live on the Prairies — Indigenous communities, farmers and ranchers — to gain local knowledge about why grasslands are important to them and what could affect their decisions if they convert that land.”

Research conducted through the hub will explore multiple factors, ranging from social and cultural values held by landowners such as succession planning, family stories, and faith-related or spiritual beliefs to the economic drivers influencing landowner decisions.

“We want to talk to farmers to understand what their profitability is when they keep or convert grasslands,” Pattison-Williams said. “Understanding the financial motivations could help create an incentive-based policy to help conservation.”

The hub is supported by a $4-million grant from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund and is one of five set up across Canada to conserve grasslands and wetlands, support forestry, and promote Indigenous-led knowledge.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

by Alice McFarlane

Conserving endangered grasslands

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